Written by Michele Wheat
You are probably here because you just got engaged and now your brain is in a million different places trying to figure out what to plan first. It can be overwhelming but the earlier you start planning, the less stressed you’ll be. Start to create a wedding planning checklist to plan out what tasks needs to be done month by month leading up to the wedding. This will keep everything organized and help create less stress. To start, here are a few important things to write in your checklist/planner so your prepared for the big day.
Wedding party
Picking your wedding party is an exciting time as you get to ask your lifelong/best friends to be a part of your big day. These are the people that will be helping you throughout the whole process and standing by your side as you get married.
One way to ask them to be a part of your wedding is with customized wristbands. Silicone wristbands can be customized with their name and/or other text along with graphics. It’s a cute, simple, and cost-effective way to ask them/have it be a part of their gift.
Wedding Date & Venue
The first thing you need to do is set your wedding date and book the venue. Booking the venue is an important part as it’ll be the backdrop in all of your photos. Make sure to schedule visits early so you have the most options to choose from before they get booked. The venue will also help you decide on a dress because certain dresses match certain venues.
The most popular venues nowadays are churches, barns, forests, or having a destination wedding. If you chose a destination wedding, here are some of the most popular places to have them:
- Bahamas
- Belize
- Cozumel Mexico
- Jamaica
- St. Thomas and St. John
- Puerto Rico
- Riviera maya Mexico
- Miami Florida
- Hawaii
- California
Vendors
Another part of planning is booking a photographer and band/DJ as their schedules fill up quick! Many vendors are hired more than a year in advance so act fast. Because vendors get booked well in advance, most wedding dates are picked based on their availability. In addition to photographers, start booking hair/makeup stylists, videographers, caterers, and florists.
Reserve Hotel Rooms
Depending on where you get married, usually there is a nearby hotel for guests who are not from the area. Many hotels offer discounts for multiple rooms along with shuttle service which is a huge plus for saving money.
Dresses/Tuxes
Your wedding dress should be bought six to nine months before your wedding date while bridesmaids dresses and groomsmen tuxes should be rented/bought about 4-6 months before. This gives you enough time to get alterations done to make it look best on you.
Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties
One of the most fun parts of a wedding is having a bachelorette party and bachelor party. This is the time for all the bridesmaid to meet and have fun before the big day. Same goes for the bachelor party, the guys can all hang out and have a party. These parties nowadays are big things, sometimes people even travel for them. Here is a list of ideas for your bachelor and bachelorette parties:
Bachelorette party ideas:
- Rent a boat
- Camping trip/Cabin on a lake
- Go to Nashville
- Beach party
- Go to a concert
- Wine tasting
- Comedy club
Bachelor party ideas:
- Road trip
- Skydiving
- Paintball
- Las Vegas/gambling
- Bar crawl
- Golf
- Camping/Hiking/Fishing
Like said above, these parties are a lot of fun because people go all out for them. Especially for the bachelorette parties, the bridesmaids and maid of honor like to wear matching outfits and decorate to make the bride feel special. One accessory that can bond the group together are bachelorette party bracelets by customizing your own wristbands for all to wear. Putting the wedding slogan or date of the wedding on the wristband would be a great addition to remember the fun time. This goes for bachelor party wristbands too if the groomsmen are looking to do something simple but creative.
Party Favors
One thing that can be forgotten about are party favors for your guests. One idea for a party favor is wristband bracelets. These are a great gift because you can customize them to fit your wedding theme. Wedding favor bracelets can be worn for a very long time after the wedding for guests to remember your special day. It’s a small gift as a thank you for coming to the wedding and celebrating the special day. Other than wristband wedding favors, many people do little succulents, jars of honey, candles, anything similar to that.
Plan your honeymoon
A honeymoon can be overlooked as you’re planning your wedding, but it is perfect to think of it as a reward for all of the hard work that was put into the wedding. Choose a destination that fits you both/what you both want to do. Some of the top places to go are Bora Bora, St. Lucia, Maldives, Fiji, Amalfi Coast, Hawaii, Bali, and many more. Make sure you have everything booked and bought so you don't have to worry about it after the wedding.
Wristbands will also be a great addition to a honeymoon gift. Get your spouse and yourself matching wristbands as a unique way to show you’re married and on your honeymoon.